NICE’s Final Appraisal Denies Halaven for Early Use

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence found the breast cancer drug Halaven too expensive and recommended against National Health Service funding of the drug as a second-line treatment for a form of breast cancer.

In a final determination, NICE said Halaven (eribulin) was too expensive for use in adults with locally advanced or secondary breast cancer who have had only one chemotherapy treatment.

NICE determined that the reasons behind the overall survival improvement the drug can provide — an average of 4.6 months compared to capecitabine, though it does not halt tumor progression — are unclear.

The drug’s manufacturer, Eisai, expressed disappointment but noted Halaven is still available as a third-line treatment.